Detergent supply device and washing machine having the same

ABSTRACT

A washing machine including a machine body, an upper case coupled to the upper part of the machine body, a rotary tub rotatably disposed in the machine body, a detergent supply device coupled to the upper case to supply detergent into the rotary tub, and a water supply valve connected between an external water supply source and the detergent supply device, wherein the detergent supply device includes a detergent box having a first guide member in which the detergent is put and a second guide member to change a flow direction of wash water flowing along the first guide member and a water supply frame having a connection part connected to the water supply valve and a water supply part communicating with the connection part to supply water to the detergent box.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0114761, filed on Nov. 18, 2010 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a detergent supply device to supply detergent into a washing machine and a washing machine having the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

A washing machine washes laundry using electric power. Generally, the washing machine includes a tub to contain wash water, a rotary tub rotatably mounted in the tub, a pulsator rotatably mounted at the bottom of the rotary tub, and a motor to drive the rotary tub and the pulsator.

When the rotary tub and the pulsator are rotated by the motor in a state in which laundry and wash water are contained in the rotary tub, the pulsator stirs the laundry in the rotary tub together with the wash water to remove contaminants from the laundry.

Generally, a detergent supply device of a fully automatic washing machine is mounted in a door of the washing machine to supply powder detergent or liquid detergent (rinse) into the rotary tub according to washing conditions, such as a washing cycle or a rinsing cycle.

SUMMARY

It is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide an improved detergent supply device to uniformly supply detergent into a rotary tub and a washing machine having the same.

Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a washing machine includes a machine body, an upper case coupled to the upper part of the machine body, a rotary tub rotatably disposed in the machine body, a detergent supply device coupled to the upper case to supply detergent into the rotary tub, and a water supply valve connected between an external water supply source and the detergent supply device, wherein the detergent supply device includes a detergent box having a first guide member in which the detergent is put and a second guide member to change a flow direction of wash water flowing along the first guide member and a water supply frame having a connection part connected to the water supply valve and a water supply part communicating with the connection part to supply water to the detergent box.

The water supply frame may include at least one first water supply hole to guide water introduced into the water supply part upstream of the first guide member and at least one second water supply hole to guide water introduced into the water supply part downstream of the first guide member.

The detergent box may include a cutout to prevent wash water in the detergent box from being discharged to the water supply frame, and the cutout may be provided at the upper part of the detergent box adjacent to the water supply frame.

The connection part may include a residual water removal hole communicating with the connection part to remove residual water in the detergent supply device.

The washing machine may further include a cover frame coupled to the upper part of the water supply frame to cover the water supply part, wherein the cover frame may be thermally welded to the water supply frame.

The detergent supply device may be provided at the front thereof with a third guide member to guide wash water discharged through the cutout into the rotary tub together with the second guide member.

The connection part may further include a bent part formed by bending one end thereof, the bent part may have a fixing rib protruding downward from an outer circumference thereof, and the upper case may have a fixing hole corresponding to the fixing rib.

The water supply frame may include a detergent introduction port through which detergent is introduced, and the cover frame may include a cover member to open and close the detergent introduction port.

The upper case may include a fourth guide member disposed below the second guide member to change a flow direction of wash water flowing along the second guide member.

The third guide member and the fourth guide member may constitute a discharge port through which the wash water having passed through the first guide member and the second guide member falls into the rotary tub.

The first guide member may be inclined downward to the second guide member, and the second guide member may be inclined downward to the fourth guide member.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a washing machine includes a machine body, a rotary tub rotatably disposed in the machine body, a detergent supply device disposed above the rotary tub, the detergent supply device having a detergent box to store detergent, and a water supply valve connected between an external water supply source and the detergent supply device, wherein the detergent supply device includes a water supply frame having at least one water supply hole to guide water introduced through the water supply valve to the detergent box and the detergent box including a first channel into which the water having passed through the water supply hole is introduced, a second channel disposed below the first channel to guide wash water in a different direction than the first channel, and a third channel provided at the outside of the detergent box to guide the wash water falling from the upper part of the detergent box into the rotary tub.

The detergent box may include a cutout to guide the wash water in the upper part of the detergent box to the third channel.

The water supply hole may include at least one first water supply hole to guide water introduced through the water supply valve to one side of the detergent box and at least one second water supply hole to guide water introduced through the water supply valve to the other side of the detergent box.

The water having fallen through the second water supply hole may be supplied to the wash water having passed through the first channel to prevent bubble generation.

The water supply frame may further include a connection part coupled to the water supply valve, and the connection part may have an air introduction port communicating with the connection part to allow external air to be introduced into the connection part therethrough.

The washing machine may further include an upper case coupled to the upper part of the machine body, wherein the upper case may define a fourth channel disposed at the lower part of the detergent supply device to guide wash water in a different direction than the second channel together with the detergent box.

The first channel, the second channel and the fourth channel may communicate with one another to constitute a route along which wash water flows, the route being formed in an approximately ‘S’ shape.

The water supply frame may include a detergent introduction port through which detergent is introduced, and the first water supply hole and the second water supply hole may be disposed around the outside of the detergent introduction port.

The detergent introduction port may be disposed so as to be exposed from the top of the upper case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a detergent supply device of FIG. 2 in a state in which a cover member is open;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a detergent supply device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the detergent supply device shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the detergent supply device taken along line I-I of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a washing machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a detergent supply device of FIG. 2 in a state in which a cover member is open.

As shown in FIG. 1, the washing machine 1 includes a machine body 10 forming the external appearance thereof, a tub 20 disposed in the machine body 10, a rotary tub 30 rotatably disposed in the tub 20, and a drive unit 40 disposed below the tub 20 to rotate the rotary tub 30.

Above the machine body 10 is provided an upper case 150 having a laundry introduction port 14, through which laundry is introduced into the rotary tub 30. A door 16 to open and close the laundry introduction port 14 is provided at the upper case 150.

To the outside of the tub 20 is connected a suspension 21 to support the tub 20 in a state in which the tub 20 is suspended from the machine body 10. To the top of the tub 20 is coupled an annular tub cover 70 to cover the tub 20.

The rotary tub 30 is rotatably disposed in the tub 20. The rotary tub 30 has a plurality of through holes 31.

A pulsator 35 is rotatably mounted at the bottom of the rotary tub 30. The pulsator 35 functions to stir laundry placed in the rotary tub 30 together with wash water.

The drive unit 40 includes a clutch 41 to rotate the rotary tub 30 and the pulsator 35 and a drive motor 43 to drive the clutch 41. The drive motor 43 is connected to the clutch 41 via a pulley and a belt to transmit drive force to the rotary tub 30 and the pulsator 35.

Above the tub 20 is mounted a water supply valve 53 to supply water to the tub 20. The water supply valve 53 is directly connected between an external water supply source and a detergent supply device 100 to supply water to the detergent supply device 100.

The detergent supply device 100 includes a water supply frame 210 directly coupled to the upper part of the upper case 150 and a detergent box 310 coupled to the lower part of the water supply frame 210 to store detergents. The upper case 150 is provided with a discharge port 328 through which wash water having passed through the detergent box 310 is discharged.

Water supplied through the water supply valve 53 flows through the detergent supply device 100 with the result that the water is supplied into the tub 20 together with the detergent.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a detergent introduction port 212 and a rinse introduction port 214 of the detergent supply device 100 are provided so as to be directly exposed from the top of the upper case 150.

A user may open only a cover member 216 to open and close the detergent introduction port 212 and the rinse introduction port 214 without opening the door 16 to open and close the laundry introduction port 14 to directly introduce detergent or rinse into the detergent supply device 100. Also, during a washing cycle, detergent may be conveniently introduced through the detergent introduction port 212 without stopping the operation of the washing machine 1 to open the door 16.

Hereinafter, the structure and operation of a detergent supply device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a detergent supply device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the detergent supply device shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the detergent supply device taken along line I-I of FIG. 4.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the detergent supply device 100 includes a detergent box 310 to store detergent and rinse, a water supply frame 210 to supply water to the detergent box 310 and a cover frame 270 coupled to the upper part of the water supply frame 210.

The detergent box 310 includes a first storage part 312 to store a solid detergent and a second storage part 314 to store liquid detergent, such as rinse or a fabric softener. The first storage part 312 and the second storage part 314 are partitioned from each other by a partition 316.

The first storage part 312 includes a first guide member 321 in which the solid detergent is placed and a second guide member 322 provided below the first guide member 321.

One end of the first guide member 321 is adjacent to a water supply part 220 provided at the water supply frame 210 to guide water falling from the water supply part 220 so that the water flows along the first guide member 321.

The first guide member 321 is inclined downward to the second guide member 322 so that water introduced into one end of the first guide member 321 is mixed with the detergent and flows to the second guide member 322.

The second guide member 322 is provided below the first guide member 321 to change the flow direction of the wash water having passed through the first guide member 321. The second guide member 322 is inclined downward to a third guide member 323 provided at the upper case 150 so that wash water introduced to the second guide member 322 naturally flows to the third guide member 323.

The second guide member 322 may have a cutout 332 a. The cutout 332 a is formed by cutting one end of the second guide member 322 adjacent to the water supply frame 210. When the level of wash water stored in the first storage part 312 is excessively increased, for example, due to blockage of a detergent discharge port, the wash water is naturally introduced into the rotary tub 30 through the cutout 332 a.

The second guide member 322 is provided at the front thereof with a third guide member 323.

The third guide member 323 may be integrally formed at the upper case 150. One end of the third guide member 323 is coupled to the upper part of the detergent supply device 100. The third guide member 323 extends toward the rotary tub 30. The third guide member 323 functions to guide wash water discharged through the cutout 332 a into the rotary tub 30 together with the second guide member 322.

Below the second guide member 322 is provided a fourth guide member 324 to change the flow direction of wash water having passed through the second guide member 322. The fourth guide member 324 is integrally formed at the upper case 150. The fourth guide member 324 is inclined downward to the rotary tub 30 to guide wash water introduced into the fourth guide member 324 via the second guide member 322 so that the wash water naturally falls into the rotary tub 30.

The third guide member 323 and the fourth guide member 324 constitute a discharge port 328. Wash water flowing along the fourth guide member 324 is discharged into the rotary tub 30 through the discharge port 328.

The first guide member 321 is provided at the top thereof with a first channel 351 through which water falling from the water supply part 220 flows in a state in which the water is mixed with detergent. The bottom of the first guide member 321 and the top of the second guide member 322 constitute a second channel 352 to guide wash water discharged from the first channel 351 in a different direction than the first channel 351.

The front F of the second guide member 322 and the third guide member 323 constitute a third channel 353 to guide wash water discharged through the cutout 332 a into the rotary tub 30. The bottom of the second guide member 322 and the top of the fourth guide member 324 constitute a fourth channel 354 to guide wash water discharged from the second channel 352 in a different direction than the second channel 352.

The first channel 351, the second channel 352 and the fourth channel 354 communicate with one another to constitute a route 350 along which wash water flows. The route 350 is formed in an ‘S’ shape to change the flow direction of wash water twice.

Wash water flowing along the route 350, constituted by the first channel 351, the second channel 352 and the fourth channel 354, is uniformly introduced into the rotary tub 30 in a state in which water and detergent are uniformly mixed.

In the second storage part 314 is provided a siphon device 362 to move a liquid detergent stored in the second storage part 314 into the rotary tub 30 using a siphon principle. The siphon device 362 includes a siphon protrusion 362 a protruding a predetermined length from the bottom of the second storage part 314 and a siphon cap 362 b coupled to the outer circumference of the siphon protrusion 362 a. When the level of liquid detergent stored in the second storage part 314 reaches a predetermined level, the liquid detergent rises through a space between the siphon protrusion 362 a and the siphon cap 362 b and is introduced into the rotary tub 30 through a through hole (not shown) formed inside the siphon protrusion 362 a.

A cutout 332 b may be provided at a side wall 342 defining the second storage part 314. The cutout 332 b is formed by cutting a portion of the upper part of the side wall 342 adjacent to the water supply frame 110. When the level of wash water containing a liquid detergent stored in the second storage part 314 is excessively increased, for example, due to blockage of the through hole (not shown) formed inside the siphon protrusion 362 a, the wash water is naturally introduced into the rotary tub 30 through the cutout 332 b.

The water supply frame 210, coupled to the upper part of the detergent box 310, includes a detergent introduction port 212, a rinse introduction port 214, a connection part 230 connected to the water supply valve 53, and a water supply part 220 communicating with the connection part 230 to supply water into the detergent box 310.

The detergent introduction port 212 and the rinse introduction port 214 are formed through the upper part of the water supply frame 210. The detergent introduction port 212 and the rinse introduction port 214 are partitioned from each other by a rib 218. The first storage part 312 is disposed below the detergent introduction port 212, and the second storage part 314 is disposed below the rinse introduction port 214.

One end of the connection part 230 communicates with the water supply part 220, and the other end of the connection part 230 is bent to form a bent part 232. The bent part 232 is coupled to the water supply valve 53. The bent part 232 has a fixing rib 236 protruding downward from the outer circumference thereof. The fixing rib 236 is coupled into a fixing hole 162 provided at the upper case 150 in a shape corresponding to the fixing rib 236 to prevent the detergent supply device 100 from being moved by water pressure during supply of water into the detergent supply device 100.

A plurality of connection parts 230 is provided at the rear of the detergent box 310 to supply hot water or cold water to the first storage part 312 and the second storage part 314.

Also, each of the connection parts 230 may include a residual water removal hole 238 to remove residual water in a corresponding one of the connection parts 230 of the detergent supply device 100.

The residual water removal holes 238 communicate with the respective connection parts 230 so that external air is introduced into the connection parts 230. Air introduced through the residual water removal holes 238 due to pressure difference between the connection parts 230 and the outside discharges the residual water in the connection parts 230 out of the detergent supply device 100 through water supply holes 222 a and 222 b.

Meanwhile, the residual water removal holes 238 may be viewed as air introduction holes since external air is introduced through the residual water removal holes 238.

The water supply part 220 includes at least one first water supply hole 222 a to guide water introduced through the connection parts 230 upstream of the first guide member 321, at least one second water supply hole 222 b to guide water introduced through the connection parts 230 downstream of the first guide member 321, and a water supply channel 224 connected between the first water supply hole 222 a and the second water supply hole 222 b.

The water supply channel 224 is disposed around the detergent introduction port 212 to guide water introduced through the connection parts 230 so that the water flows along the water supply channel 224 and falls through the first water supply hole 222 a or the second water supply hole 222 b.

The first water supply hole 222 a is provided at one side of the water supply channel 224 adjacent to the connection parts 230 to guide some of the water introduced through the connection parts 230 so that some of the water falls upstream of the first guide member 321, detergent is dissolved in the water, and the water containing the detergent flows to the lower part of the detergent box 310.

The second water supply hole 222 b is provided at the other side of the water supply channel 224. Water not falling through the first water supply hole 222 a falls downstream of the first guide member 321 through the water supply channel 224 and the second water supply hole 222 b to prevent bubbles from being generated in the wash water having passed through the first channel 352.

The wash water flowing along the first channel 351 may collide with the back B of the second guide member 322 depending upon the amount or speed of the wash water. In this case, bubbles are generated with the result that the detergent is not uniformly mixed with the water. Also, the wash water containing the bubbles does not smoothly flow in the detergent box 310, and the detergent is not uniformly attached to the laundry in the rotary tub 30. As shown in FIG. 6, water falling through the second water supply hole 222 b enables wash water flowing to the back B of the second guide member 322 to flow to the second channel 352 without collision with the back B of the second guide member 322, thereby preventing bubbles from being generated in the wash water.

The cover frame 270 is coupled to the upper part of the water supply frame 210. The cover frame 270 is coupled to the upper part of the water supply frame 210 by thermal welding to prevent water introduced into the water supply channel 224 provided at the water supply frame 210 from leaking out of the detergent supply device 100.

The cover member 216 is provided at the cover frame 270 to open and close the detergent introduction port 212 and the rinse introduction port 214. The cover member 216 may be rotatably coupled to the cover frame 270. As previously described, a user may open only the a cover member 216 to open and close the detergent introduction port 212 and the rinse introduction port 214 without opening the door 16 to open and close the laundry introduction port 14 to directly introduce detergent or rinse into the detergent supply device 100.

As is apparent from the above description, detergent and laundry are uniformed mixed during washing, thereby improving washing efficiency.

Also, a user may conveniently introduce detergent into a detergent supply device.

Although a few embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents. 

1. A washing machine comprising: a machine body; an upper case coupled to an upper part of the machine body; a rotary tub rotatably disposed in the machine body; a detergent supply device coupled to the upper case to supply detergent into the rotary tub; and a water supply valve connected to the detergent supply device, wherein the detergent supply device comprises: a detergent box having a first guide member in which the detergent is put and a second guide member to change a flow direction of wash water flowing along the first guide member; and a water supply frame having a connection part connected to the water supply valve and a water supply part communicating with the connection part to supply water to the detergent box.
 2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the water supply frame comprises: at least one first water supply hole to guide water introduced into the water supply part upstream of the first guide member; and at least one second water supply hole to guide water introduced into the water supply part downstream of the first guide member.
 3. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the detergent box comprises a cutout to prevent wash water in the detergent box from being discharged to the water supply frame, and the cutout is provided at an upper part of the detergent box adjacent to the water supply frame.
 4. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the connection part comprises a residual water removal hole communicating with the connection part to remove residual water in the detergent supply device.
 5. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a cover frame coupled to the upper part of the water supply frame to cover the water supply part, wherein the cover frame is thermally welded to the water supply frame.
 6. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the detergent supply device is provided at a front thereof with a third guide member to guide wash water discharged through the cutout into the rotary tub together with the second guide member.
 7. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the connection part further comprises a bent part formed by bending one end thereof, the bent part has a fixing rib protruding downward from an outer circumference thereof, and the upper case has a fixing hole corresponding to the fixing rib.
 8. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the water supply frame comprises a detergent introduction port through which detergent is introduced, and the cover frame comprises a cover member to open and close the detergent introduction port.
 9. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the upper case comprises a fourth guide member disposed below the second guide member to change a flow direction of wash water flowing along the second guide member.
 10. The washing machine according to claim 9, wherein the third guide member and the fourth guide member constitute a discharge port through which the wash water having passed through the first guide member and the second guide member falls into the rotary tub.
 11. The washing machine according to claim 6, wherein the first guide member is inclined downward to the second guide member, and the second guide member is inclined downward to the fourth guide member.
 12. A washing machine comprising: a machine body; a rotary tub rotatably disposed in the machine body; a detergent supply device disposed above the rotary tub, the detergent supply device having a detergent box to store detergent; and a water supply valve connected to the detergent supply device, wherein the detergent supply device comprises: a water supply frame having at least one water supply hole to guide water introduced through the water supply valve to the detergent box; and the detergent box comprising a first channel into which the water having passed through the water supply hole is introduced, a second channel disposed below the first channel to guide wash water in a different direction than the first channel, and a third channel provided at an outside of the detergent box to guide the wash water falling from an upper part of the detergent box into the rotary tub.
 13. The washing machine according to claim 12, wherein the detergent box comprises a cutout to guide the wash water in the upper part of the detergent box to the third channel.
 14. The washing machine according to claim 12, wherein the water supply hole comprises: at least one first water supply hole to guide water introduced through the water supply valve to one side of the detergent box; and at least one second water supply hole to guide water introduced through the water supply valve to the other side of the detergent box.
 15. The washing machine according to claim 14, wherein the water having fallen through the second water supply hole is supplied to the wash water having passed through the first channel to prevent bubble generation.
 16. The washing machine according to claim 12, wherein the water supply frame further comprises a connection part coupled to the water supply valve, and the connection part has an air introduction port communicating with the connection part to allow external air to be introduced into the connection part therethrough.
 17. The washing machine according to claim 12, further comprising an upper case coupled to an upper part of the machine body, wherein the upper case defines a fourth channel disposed at a lower part of the detergent supply device to guide wash water in a different direction than the second channel together with the detergent box.
 18. The washing machine according to claim 17, wherein the first channel, the second channel and the fourth channel communicate with one another to constitute a route along which wash water flows, the route being formed in an approximately ‘S’ shape.
 19. The washing machine according to claim 14, wherein the water supply frame comprises a detergent introduction port through which detergent is introduced, and the first water supply hole and the second water supply hole are disposed around an outside of the detergent introduction port.
 20. The washing machine according to claim 19, wherein the detergent introduction port is disposed so as to be exposed from the top of the upper case. 